News


News brief: Red Arrow’s Escape Your Life heads to TNT

US cable net TNT has ordered unscripted social experiment series Escape Your Life from Kinetic Content, the US prodco owned by Munich-based Red Arrow. The series gives couples the chance to escape their current lives and start again somewhere new, before facing the dilemma of whether to embrace their new existence or return to their […]

Nick Jr and Nicktoons debut in Africa

Viacom has launched kids channels Nick Jr and Nicktoons in Africa for the first time on MultiChoice’s DStv platform and has extended the reach of entertainment channel BET International. Nick Jr will be available on the DStv Premium package in South Africa, while Nicktoons will be available via DSTv Family, Compact, Extra and Premium packages. […]

Chernin’s Otter buying MCN Fullscreen

Peter Chernin is adding leading multichannel operator Fullscreen to its growing media empire. Otter Media, which is a joint venture of The Chernin Group and US telco AT&T, have agreed to buy the company for an undisclosed amount. Otter was established to invest in, acquire and launch OTT services. Recode, which originally linked Otter to […]

London Live’s Lawford joins Beal’s Woodcut

Former BBC Worldwide iPlayer exec Derren Lawford has joined Kate Beal’s new indie, Woodcut Media, as joint creative director. Lawford joins from London Live, the local digital channel that services England’s capital city, where he was commissioning executive. At Woodcut, Lawford will work to secure commissions, work on production in the UK and internationally, and […]

Ex-Sony exec Ziad Kebbi launches new prodco

Former Endemol and Sony executive Ziad Kebbi has launched his own Middle East-focused production company, Maximum Media, TBI has learned. Kebbi will be CEO of the new Dubai-based company, which will bring international formats to the Middle East as well as work up ideas originated in the region. “Non-scripted will be the focus at the […]

Canal+ strikes HBO SVOD deal

French pay TV operator Canal+’s on-demand unit Canalplay has struck a deal with US pay TV channel provider HBO to acquire subscription video-on-demand rights to The Wire and Strike Back. Seasons one to five of The Wire and seasons one and two of Strike Back will be available via Canal+’s SVOD service from now until […]

Clock ticking as Canadians demand Netflix data

Canadian communications regulator the CRTC has demanded Netflix reveal subscriber, viewing and programme expenditure data and threatened to waive the streaming service’s exemption from local content obligations if it does not cooperate. The CRTC, which is conducting an extensive round of hearings into Canadian TV, has demanded the data be delivered by 5pm today (Ottowa […]

YouTube makes premium content investment pledge

YouTube has announced plans to fund videos from some of its “top creators” in its latest effort to help support premium content on the site. In a blog post, YouTube said “we feel the time is right to make another important investment in our creators” having initially invested in 100 original US channels in 2011 […]

Al Jazeera countersues Current co-founders Gore and Hyatt

Al Jazeera America is countersuing former Current TV owners, former US vice-president Al Gore and co-founder Joel Hyatt, rejecting claims that it withheld funds relating to its buyout of the network. In August, Gore and Hyatt filed a lawsuit accusing Al Jazeera of fraud and breach of contract, alleging that the Qatari company has withheld […]

Strong ad growth forecast

The global advertising market will grow strongly through the rest of the year with television remaining the largest medium, new forecasts suggest. TV will account for 39.6% of the global ad revenue total of US$523 billion, according to media agency ZenithOptimedia’s latest forecasts. The predicted total is actually fractionally down on Zenith’s earlier forecast, with […]